Sports Betting Guide
Sports Betting at Parimatch — Complete Beginner & Advanced Guide
Parimatch has been offering sports betting since 1994 — before the internet, via retail sportsbooks in Ukraine. The online sports betting product launched in the early 2000s and today covers 50+ sports, hundreds of leagues, and live in-play betting on thousands of events every day. Parimatch is particularly strong in football (soccer), tennis, basketball, and — as covered separately — esports, where it was among the first major sportsbooks to offer dedicated markets.
Betting Types Explained
1X2 (Match Result)
The most common bet type. Predict whether the home team wins (1), the match ends in a draw (X), or the away team wins (2). Available on all team sports. Simple to understand; home/away/draw odds reflect team strength and venue advantage.
Handicap Betting
One team is given a virtual head start or deficit. Example: Team A -1.5 goals means Team A must win by 2+ goals for your bet to win. Eliminates the draw outcome and creates closer odds between unequal teams. Popular in football, basketball, and American sports.
Over/Under (Totals)
Bet on whether the total number of goals/points/games will be above or below a set line. Example: Over 2.5 goals in a football match. Requires no prediction of the winner — only the total scoring level. Useful when two well-matched teams play.
Accumulator (Parlay)
Combine 2+ selections into one bet. All selections must win for the bet to pay. Odds multiply together: three 2.0 selections = 8.0 accumulated odds. High potential payout; high risk. A single losing selection voids the entire bet.
Understanding Odds Formats
| Format | Example | What it means | Implied probability |
|---|
| Decimal (European) | 2.50 | Return $2.50 per $1 staked (incl. stake) | 40% |
| Fractional (UK) | 3/2 | Win $3 for every $2 staked | 40% |
| American (Moneyline) | +150 | Win $150 from a $100 bet | 40% |
| American (favourite) | -150 | Stake $150 to win $100 | 60% |
Parimatch displays odds in decimal format by default. You can change the display format in account settings. The implied probability is calculated as: 1 ÷ decimal odds × 100. If the sum of implied probabilities across all outcomes exceeds 100%, the difference is the bookmaker's margin (overround).
Sports Covered at Parimatch
- Football (Soccer): Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League, World Cup, EURO, over 200 leagues and cups worldwide. Pre-match and live in-play. Asian handicap markets, both teams to score, corners, cards, player props.
- Tennis: All four Grand Slams, ATP/WTA tours, Davis Cup. Set betting, game handicaps, live match betting updated between every point.
- Basketball: NBA, EuroLeague, national leagues. Quarter handicaps, first-half markets, player points props, live quarter-by-quarter wagering.
- Cricket: Test, ODI, T20I. IPL, Big Bash, The Hundred. Ball-by-ball live markets. Top batsman, top bowler, innings totals, match result.
- Ice Hockey: NHL, KHL, SHL, national leagues. Puck line (handicap), period betting, goal scorer props.
- Boxing & MMA: UFC, Bellator, major boxing cards. Method of victory, round betting, title fight specials.
- American Football: NFL regular season, playoffs, Super Bowl. Spread, moneyline, totals, player rushing/receiving/passing yards props.
- Golf, Darts, Snooker, Volleyball, Rugby: Comprehensive coverage with match and outright tournament markets.
In-Play (Live) Betting Guide
Live betting lets you place bets on events that are already in progress. Odds update in real time based on the match situation — a goal scored, a player red-carded, a service break in tennis. Parimatch offers live streaming on thousands of events, meaning you can watch and bet simultaneously without switching tabs.
Key live betting strategies:
- Wait for the market to settle: Odds immediately after a goal often overreact. The team that just conceded may represent better value as markets re-settle.
- Use live cash-out: Parimatch allows you to cash out bets before the event ends. Lock in a profit if your selection is winning, or cut losses before a potential reversal.
- Specialise in one sport: In-play betting rewards knowledge of patterns — how a team responds after conceding, a server's break point performance in tennis. Spreading across many sports dilutes this edge.
Bankroll Management for Sports Betting
Consistent profitability in sports betting requires disciplined bankroll management regardless of your prediction quality. The flat staking model (betting the same amount on every selection, typically 1–3% of total bankroll) is the safest approach. Avoid martingale (doubling after losses) — this is the fastest route to a depleted bankroll and does not improve long-term EV.
Keep records. Every serious sports bettor tracks every bet: date, event, market, odds, stake, result. Without records you cannot assess whether you are betting at genuine positive expected value or simply experiencing variance.
What is the minimum bet on sports at Parimatch?
The minimum sports bet at Parimatch is $0.10 for most markets. Some live markets have a higher minimum due to rapid odds movement. The maximum bet varies by sport and market — contact support for specific limits on major events.
Does Parimatch offer a cash-out feature?
Yes. Cash-out is available on most pre-match and live single bets and accumulators. The cash-out value is calculated dynamically based on current odds and your potential payout. Partial cash-out (withdrawing part of your potential winnings while leaving the rest active) is also available.
Is live streaming included with sports betting?
Yes. Parimatch offers live streaming on thousands of events across football, tennis, basketball, and other sports. To access live streaming, you need to either have a funded balance or have placed a bet on the event within the past 24 hours.
